POSITION SUMMARY:  

Under the general direction of the Principal Investigator or designee, the Research Technologist will perform a variety of complex research experiments and is responsible for overseeing laboratory operations within the Department.

The Luzuriaga Lab is looking for an initiative-taking candidate to join our team. Our lab is embedded in the vibrant research environment of the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and is highly collaborative with other labs within and external to UMass Chan.

The selected candidate will apply a combination of molecular and cell culture assays to the study of clinical specimens, with the goal of advancing our understanding of how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establishes and maintains persistence in children’s immune cells.

One position is open for initiative-taking Research Technologist to perform experiments in the Kathryn Luzuriaga laboratory which is located within the Program in Molecular Medicine. The primary responsibilities will be the daily operation of the laboratory. Other duties will include basic operation, daily calibration, data analysis, and quality control and other laboratory tasks as needed. The position offers an exceptional opportunity for scientific growth, particularly in high throughput of high-level HIV experiments, with access to innovative facilities and a terrific work environment.

This project provides an excellent opportunity to gain experience and further develop a variety of techniques. The selected candidate will work under the direction of the PI or designee to design, execute, and analyze experiments, as well as to prepare oral or written presentations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The successful candidate must be highly organized, initiative-taking and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Independently perform complex laboratory experiments and conduct in-depth analysis of research experiments specializing in HIV Research and/or complex experiments.
• Write standard operating procedures, schedule work, analyze data, maintain accurate records, and write reports
• Report the status of projects and observations to the designated faculty member applicable to the various research projects assigned
• Design and execute protocols and experiments, modify protocols as needed, and may be responsible for own research project
• Manage assigned junior research staff (which includes monitoring day to day laboratory assignments, input, and guidance on employee evaluation of junior staff,
• Present findings on a quarterly basis in lab meetings
• Training junior research staff and postdoctoral fellows on compliance and research laboratory protocols & procedures
• Responsible for overall laboratory organization including oversight of safety protocols and the maintenance of related records
• Meet on a weekly basis to review projects and align responsibilities with laboratory needs
• Maintain detailed lab notebook documenting all experimental work
• Provide direct information related to costs associated with grant proposals (federal & industry sponsored projects) (as it relates to scientific expenses)
• Manage oversight of laboratory research expenses on the various grant proposals
• Long-range planning for laboratory and departmental equipment maintenance and replacement. Assist in procurement of departmental equipment. Responsible for physical inventory of all equipment, and maintaining records of all equipment acquired, moved off-site, or discarded
• Oversee and coordinate the use of centralized departmental facilities
• Ensure departmental computer resources remain functional and provide on-site support to Investigators as requested
• Work with Facilities Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, and Radiation Safety to ensure department facilities and laboratories are following federal, state, and institutional regulations
• Assist in writing the text of scientific publications and grants. Review literature
• Comply with all safety and infection control standards
• Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor’s degree in the Biological Sciences, or equivalent experience
• 3-5 years of relevant research experience.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
• Strong ability to analyze complex visual data in a quantitative and objective manner.
• Judgment and action skills required to solve commonly encountered problems

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Initiative-taking to apply skills towards solving biological problems
• Strong critical thinking skills and independent judgement
• Expertise in molecular biology techniques, including gene sequencing and analyses
• Ability to travel to meetings and off-site locations, as required
• Meticulous record keeping, proficiency with databases, and computational skills